fix(install): auto-create package.json when missing in vp install / vp add

crates/vite_global_cli/src/commands/add.rs

@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ impl AddCommand {
         pass_through_args: Option<&[String]>,
     ) -> Result<ExitStatus, Error> {
         prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env(&self.cwd).await?;
+        super::ensure_package_json(&self.cwd).await?;
 
         let add_command_options = AddCommandOptions {
             packages,

crates/vite_global_cli/src/commands/dedupe.rs

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 use std::process::ExitStatus;
 
-use vite_install::{commands::dedupe::DedupeCommandOptions, package_manager::PackageManager};
+use vite_install::commands::dedupe::DedupeCommandOptions;
 use vite_path::AbsolutePathBuf;
 
-use super::prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env;
+use super::{build_package_manager, prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env};
 use crate::error::Error;
 
 /// Dedupe command for deduplicating dependencies by removing older versions.
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ impl DedupeCommand {
     ) -> Result<ExitStatus, Error> {
         prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env(&self.cwd).await?;
 
-        // Detect package manager
-        let package_manager = PackageManager::builder(&self.cwd).build_with_default().await?;
+        let package_manager = build_package_manager(&self.cwd).await?;
 
         let dedupe_command_options = DedupeCommandOptions { check, pass_through_args };
         Ok(package_manager.run_dedupe_command(&dedupe_command_options, &self.cwd).await?)

crates/vite_global_cli/src/commands/dlx.rs

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 use std::process::ExitStatus;
 
-use vite_install::{commands::dlx::DlxCommandOptions, package_manager::PackageManager};
+use vite_install::commands::dlx::DlxCommandOptions;
 use vite_path::AbsolutePathBuf;
 
-use super::prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env;
+use super::{build_package_manager, prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env};
 use crate::error::Error;
 
 /// Dlx command for executing packages without installing them as dependencies.
@@ -40,8 +40,7 @@ impl DlxCommand {
         let package_spec = &args[0];
         let command_args: Vec<String> = args[1..].to_vec();
 
-        // Detect package manager
-        let package_manager = PackageManager::builder(&self.cwd).build_with_default().await?;
+        let package_manager = build_package_manager(&self.cwd).await?;
 
         let dlx_command_options = DlxCommandOptions {
             packages: &packages,

crates/vite_global_cli/src/commands/install.rs

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ impl InstallCommand {
 
     pub async fn execute(self, options: &InstallCommandOptions<'_>) -> Result<ExitStatus, Error> {
         prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env(&self.cwd).await?;
+        super::ensure_package_json(&self.cwd).await?;
 
         let package_manager = PackageManager::builder(&self.cwd).build_with_default().await?;
 
@@ -83,6 +84,42 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(result.is_ok());
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_ensure_package_json_creates_when_missing() {
+        let temp_dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        let dir_path = AbsolutePathBuf::new(temp_dir.path().to_path_buf()).unwrap();
+        let package_json_path = dir_path.join("package.json");
+
+        // Verify no package.json exists
+        assert!(!package_json_path.as_path().exists());
+
+        // Call ensure_package_json
+        crate::commands::ensure_package_json(&dir_path).await.unwrap();
+
+        // Verify package.json was created with correct content
+        let content = fs::read_to_string(&package_json_path).unwrap();
+        let parsed: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_str(&content).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(parsed["type"], "module");
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_ensure_package_json_does_not_overwrite_existing() {
+        let temp_dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+        let dir_path = AbsolutePathBuf::new(temp_dir.path().to_path_buf()).unwrap();
+        let package_json_path = dir_path.join("package.json");
+
+        // Create an existing package.json
+        let existing_content = r#"{"name": "existing-package"}"#;
+        fs::write(&package_json_path, existing_content).unwrap();
+
+        // Call ensure_package_json
+        crate::commands::ensure_package_json(&dir_path).await.unwrap();
+
+        // Verify existing package.json was NOT overwritten
+        let content = fs::read_to_string(&package_json_path).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(content, existing_content);
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_install_command_execute_with_invalid_workspace() {
         let temp_dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();

crates/vite_global_cli/src/commands/link.rs

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 use std::process::ExitStatus;
 
-use vite_install::{commands::link::LinkCommandOptions, package_manager::PackageManager};
+use vite_install::commands::link::LinkCommandOptions;
 use vite_path::AbsolutePathBuf;
 
-use super::prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env;
+use super::{build_package_manager, prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env};
 use crate::error::Error;
 
 /// Link command for local package development.
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ impl LinkCommand {
     ) -> Result<ExitStatus, Error> {
         prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env(&self.cwd).await?;
 
-        // Detect package manager
-        let package_manager = PackageManager::builder(&self.cwd).build_with_default().await?;
+        let package_manager = build_package_manager(&self.cwd).await?;
 
         let link_command_options = LinkCommandOptions { package, pass_through_args };
         Ok(package_manager.run_link_command(&link_command_options, &self.cwd).await?)

crates/vite_global_cli/src/commands/mod.rs

@@ -23,11 +23,26 @@
 //! Category C - Local CLI Delegation:
 //! - `delegate`: Local CLI delegation
 
+use vite_install::package_manager::PackageManager;
 use vite_path::AbsolutePath;
 use vite_shared::{PrependOptions, prepend_to_path_env};
 
 use crate::{error::Error, js_executor::JsExecutor};
 
+/// Ensure a package.json exists in the given directory.
+/// If it doesn't exist, create a minimal one with `{ "type": "module" }`.
+pub async fn ensure_package_json(project_path: &AbsolutePath) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    let package_json_path = project_path.join("package.json");
+    if !package_json_path.as_path().exists() {
+        let content = serde_json::to_string_pretty(&serde_json::json!({
+            "type": "module"
+        }))?;
+        tokio::fs::write(&package_json_path, format!("{content}\n")).await?;
+        tracing::info!("Created package.json in {:?}", project_path);
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 /// Ensure the JS runtime is downloaded and prepend its bin directory to PATH.
 /// This should be called before executing any package manager command.
 ///
@@ -54,6 +69,17 @@ pub async fn prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env(project_path: &AbsolutePath) -> Resu
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// Build a PackageManager, converting PackageJsonNotFound into a friendly error message.
+pub async fn build_package_manager(cwd: &AbsolutePath) -> Result<PackageManager, Error> {
+    match PackageManager::builder(cwd).build_with_default().await {
+        Ok(pm) => Ok(pm),
+        Err(vite_error::Error::WorkspaceError(vite_workspace::Error::PackageJsonNotFound(_))) => {
+            Err(Error::UserMessage("No package.json found.".into()))
+        }
+        Err(e) => Err(e.into()),
+    }
+}
+
 // Category A: Package manager commands
 pub mod add;
 pub mod dedupe;

crates/vite_global_cli/src/commands/outdated.rs

@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
 use std::process::ExitStatus;
 
-use vite_install::{
-    commands::outdated::{Format, OutdatedCommandOptions},
-    package_manager::PackageManager,
-};
+use vite_install::commands::outdated::{Format, OutdatedCommandOptions};
 use vite_path::AbsolutePathBuf;
 
-use super::prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env;
+use super::{build_package_manager, prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env};
 use crate::error::Error;
 
 /// Outdated command for checking outdated packages.
@@ -41,8 +38,7 @@ impl OutdatedCommand {
     ) -> Result<ExitStatus, Error> {
         prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env(&self.cwd).await?;
 
-        // Detect package manager
-        let package_manager = PackageManager::builder(&self.cwd).build_with_default().await?;
+        let package_manager = build_package_manager(&self.cwd).await?;
 
         let outdated_command_options = OutdatedCommandOptions {
             packages,

crates/vite_global_cli/src/commands/pm.rs

@@ -6,17 +6,14 @@
 
 use std::process::ExitStatus;
 
-use vite_install::{
-    PackageManager,
-    commands::{
-        cache::CacheCommandOptions, config::ConfigCommandOptions, list::ListCommandOptions,
-        owner::OwnerSubcommand, pack::PackCommandOptions, prune::PruneCommandOptions,
-        publish::PublishCommandOptions, view::ViewCommandOptions,
-    },
+use vite_install::commands::{
+    cache::CacheCommandOptions, config::ConfigCommandOptions, list::ListCommandOptions,
+    owner::OwnerSubcommand, pack::PackCommandOptions, prune::PruneCommandOptions,
+    publish::PublishCommandOptions, view::ViewCommandOptions,
 };
 use vite_path::AbsolutePathBuf;
 
-use super::prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env;
+use super::{build_package_manager, prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env};
 use crate::{
     cli::{ConfigCommands, OwnerCommands, PmCommands},
     error::Error,
@@ -32,7 +29,7 @@ pub async fn execute_info(
 ) -> Result<ExitStatus, Error> {
     prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env(&cwd).await?;
 
-    let package_manager = PackageManager::builder(&cwd).build_with_default().await?;
+    let package_manager = build_package_manager(&cwd).await?;
 
     let options = ViewCommandOptions { package, field, json, pass_through_args };
 
@@ -51,24 +48,7 @@ pub async fn execute_pm_subcommand(
 
     prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env(&cwd).await?;
 
-    let package_manager = match PackageManager::builder(&cwd).build_with_default().await {
-        Ok(pm) => pm,
-        Err(e) => {
-            // For `list` command, silently succeed when no workspace is found
-            // (matches `pnpm list` behavior in dirs without package.json)
-            if matches!(&command, PmCommands::List { .. })
-                && matches!(
-                    &e,
-                    vite_error::Error::WorkspaceError(vite_workspace::Error::PackageJsonNotFound(
-                        _
-                    ))
-                )
-            {
-                return Ok(ExitStatus::default());
-            }
-            return Err(e.into());
-        }
-    };
+    let package_manager = build_package_manager(&cwd).await?;
 
     match command {
         PmCommands::Prune { prod, no_optional, pass_through_args } => {

crates/vite_global_cli/src/commands/remove.rs

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 use std::process::ExitStatus;
 
-use vite_install::{commands::remove::RemoveCommandOptions, package_manager::PackageManager};
+use vite_install::commands::remove::RemoveCommandOptions;
 use vite_path::AbsolutePathBuf;
 
-use super::prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env;
+use super::{build_package_manager, prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env};
 use crate::error::Error;
 
 /// Remove command for removing packages from dependencies.
@@ -33,8 +33,7 @@ impl RemoveCommand {
     ) -> Result<ExitStatus, Error> {
         prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env(&self.cwd).await?;
 
-        // Detect package manager
-        let package_manager = PackageManager::builder(&self.cwd).build_with_default().await?;
+        let package_manager = build_package_manager(&self.cwd).await?;
 
         let remove_command_options = RemoveCommandOptions {
             packages,

crates/vite_global_cli/src/commands/unlink.rs

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 use std::process::ExitStatus;
 
-use vite_install::{commands::unlink::UnlinkCommandOptions, package_manager::PackageManager};
+use vite_install::commands::unlink::UnlinkCommandOptions;
 use vite_path::AbsolutePathBuf;
 
-use super::prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env;
+use super::{build_package_manager, prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env};
 use crate::error::Error;
 
 /// Unlink command for removing package links.
@@ -27,8 +27,7 @@ impl UnlinkCommand {
     ) -> Result<ExitStatus, Error> {
         prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env(&self.cwd).await?;
 
-        // Detect package manager
-        let package_manager = PackageManager::builder(&self.cwd).build_with_default().await?;
+        let package_manager = build_package_manager(&self.cwd).await?;
 
         let unlink_command_options = UnlinkCommandOptions { package, recursive, pass_through_args };
         Ok(package_manager.run_unlink_command(&unlink_command_options, &self.cwd).await?)

crates/vite_global_cli/src/commands/update.rs

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 use std::process::ExitStatus;
 
-use vite_install::{commands::update::UpdateCommandOptions, package_manager::PackageManager};
+use vite_install::commands::update::UpdateCommandOptions;
 use vite_path::AbsolutePathBuf;
 
-use super::prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env;
+use super::{build_package_manager, prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env};
 use crate::error::Error;
 
 /// Update command for updating packages to their latest versions.
@@ -38,8 +38,7 @@ impl UpdateCommand {
     ) -> Result<ExitStatus, Error> {
         prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env(&self.cwd).await?;
 
-        // Detect package manager
-        let package_manager = PackageManager::builder(&self.cwd).build_with_default().await?;
+        let package_manager = build_package_manager(&self.cwd).await?;
 
         let update_command_options = UpdateCommandOptions {
             packages,

crates/vite_global_cli/src/commands/why.rs

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 use std::process::ExitStatus;
 
-use vite_install::{commands::why::WhyCommandOptions, package_manager::PackageManager};
+use vite_install::commands::why::WhyCommandOptions;
 use vite_path::AbsolutePathBuf;
 
-use super::prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env;
+use super::{build_package_manager, prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env};
 use crate::error::Error;
 
 /// Why command for showing why a package is installed.
@@ -40,8 +40,7 @@ impl WhyCommand {
     ) -> Result<ExitStatus, Error> {
         prepend_js_runtime_to_path_env(&self.cwd).await?;
 
-        // Detect package manager
-        let package_manager = PackageManager::builder(&self.cwd).build_with_default().await?;
+        let package_manager = build_package_manager(&self.cwd).await?;
 
         let why_command_options = WhyCommandOptions {
             packages,

crates/vite_global_cli/src/error.rs

@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ pub enum Error {
     #[error("{0}")]
     Other(Str),
 
+    /// User-facing message printed without "Error: " prefix.
+    #[error("{0}")]
+    UserMessage(Str),
+
     #[error(
         "Executable '{bin_name}' is already installed by {existing_package}\n\nPlease remove {existing_package} before installing {new_package}, or use --force to auto-replace"
     )]

crates/vite_global_cli/src/main.rs

@@ -90,7 +90,11 @@ async fn main() -> ExitCode {
             }
         }
         Err(e) => {
-            eprintln!("Error: {e}");
+            if matches!(&e, error::Error::UserMessage(_)) {
+                eprintln!("{e}");
+            } else {
+                eprintln!("Error: {e}");
+            }
             ExitCode::FAILURE
         }
     }

packages/global/snap-tests/command-install-auto-create-package-json/snap.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+> test ! -f package.json && echo 'no package.json' # verify no package.json exists
+no package.json
+
+> vp install --silent && cat package.json # should auto-create package.json and install
+{
+  "type": "module",
+  "packageManager": "pnpm@<semver>"
+}
+> vp add testnpm2 -D && cat package.json # should add package to auto-created package.json
+Packages: +<variable>
++<repeat>
+Progress: resolved <variable>, reused <variable>, downloaded <variable>, added <variable>, done
+
+devDependencies:
++ testnpm2 <semver>
+
+Done in <variable>ms using pnpm v<semver>
+{
+  "type": "module",
+  "packageManager": "pnpm@<semver>",
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "testnpm2": "^1.0.1"
+  }
+}